Too early for a swim in the pool, though the temperature was around 70 degrees.
So, it was in for breakfast - a selection of fruit and cereal followed by French toast with a covering of various berries and maple syrup was thoroughly enjoyed. No photo I'm afraid as it had been eaten before the idea dawned on us. Plus some blueberry muffins for on the road.
Once packed we set out on the fairly long drive to Bar Harbor.
First stop, the tourist information centre. Extremely helpful lady loaded us up with maps and directions of things to see and do along the way. Next came a visit to York. This is the oldest town in the US as it was the first to be incorporated, although we haven't yet checked what that actually means, having forgotten to ask the lady when she told us.
There was a really neat looking church. It was built in the 1700's at about the same time as the local gaol, which was across the road - not too sure what that says about the population at the time!
The picture doesn't do it justice unfortunately, the day was a bit grey. That's why real photographers can earn lots of money I guess, they know how to sort out their white balance.
As we drive along a stretch of beach, Eric spots the Nubble lighthouse in the distance.
These look like Red-faced Cormorant - but those are only supposed to be found off the coast of Alaska - so we might be wrong there!
A little further along the road we call into our first nature reserve, The Wells Reserve at Laudholm. They are setting up for a Craft Fayre on the weekend, pity we will miss that (but good for the wallet). Setting out towards one of the trails, the heavens open and we have to temporarily take shelter. The rain soon stops though, and we continue on our boardwalk amble through the Maple forest marsh and to a lookout over the saltmarsh.
Where's the water?
Where's the wildlife?!
There was generally a distinct lack of wildlife visible, apart from the mosquitos that is! Although there was a cacophony of sound from crickets or similar during parts of the walk. Only one of us could hear these though! Just as we were leaving a flock of birds came in and landed on the sand bar - tantalisingly too far away for identification. Possibly waders (plover?), but flew more like swallows or martins. Too many bitey mossies to stay for long! Now we know why they had the insect repellent so prominently displayed in the visitor centre.
Next stop - Rachel Carson Wildlife Refuge, another trail but not so many mosquitos this time. Some extremely distant views of two different egrets followed by a closer view of what we believe to be a Greater Yellowlegs (still to be confirmed)
Well we haven't covered many miles yet, so a quick dash through the Kennebunks, viewing the 'famous' wedding cake house along the way.
Eric didn't think it looked too much like a wedding cake.
Onward along US Route 1 - another church, that had a sort of Escher painting look about it.
At Penobscot Narrows Bridge we are too late to tour Fort Knox and the Observatory that is higher than the Statue of Liberty. It's built within one of the towers of the bridge that crosses the river here. You may just about be able to make out the windows at the top!
Bar Harbor at last. Book in and then into the village for a walk around and along the shore.
An illuminated moose on the roof!
There is a different cruise ship due to call into Bar Harbour every day this week.
Bar Harbor is a rather pleasant place for an evening wander.
And then he settled down on his bed to watch a bit of TV!
